Alcohol or drug addiction may affect a quarter of teenagers in South Africa, experts say.

Craig Greef takes part in one of Usiko’s mountain hikes. Here, Usiko mentor Freddy ‘cleanses’ him and the other boys for the mountain in a ritual using local plants (Pic: Eric Miller/Panos Pictures)

Many children start drinking from as young as nine years old and some are dependent by 11, it is thought, while drug abuse has been seen among eight-year-olds.

‘Recently, it is getting worse,’ said Shamim Garda, executive director of the South Africa National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence.

‘The age group of young people abusing drugs and alcohol seems to be dropping and the percentages increasing.’

The alcohol problem was caused, in part, by parents not drinking responsibly in front of their children and the willingness of outlets to sell to underage people, she said.

‘Teachers are sending children to us who are drunk or hung-over at school,’ added Ms Garda. ‘The problem is increasing all the time.’

Litha Bhebkeza speaks to pupils at school (Pic: Eric Miller)

The ‘tot’ system, which sees some farm workers paid in wine rather than money, is also a factor. Although largely eradicated, it still went on and played a part in South Africa having a high rate of foetal alcohol syndrome – defects caused by mothers drinking, said Ms Garda.

Drug abuse among children tends to start about the age of 13 or 14.

It was worse in the poor areas where children had little to entertain them, said Ms Garda, adding: ‘It becomes a recreation for them because there is nothing else to do.

‘We lack those kinds of facilities for the youngsters.’

Children often start out smoking marijuana before moving on to the hypnotic-sedative drug methaqualone – known as mandrax. Some low-grade heroin is also found in poor areas.

Drug peddlers were now approaching children at a younger age to increase their markets, said Ms Garda.

Youths, some aged just eight or nine, are also involved in dealing. In the most deprived areas, drugs are easier to get hold of than food, community activists say.

Worsening gang problems in poor communities were fuelled by drug dealing, said Hermien Gibson, of Comic Relief-funded youth project Usiko. ‘Children have been found to be on drugs as early as eight years old,’ she added.

Usiko helps members by giving them a sense of family, offering recreational activities and helping them into work or higher education. Member Yulston Langeveldt, 24, began drinking aged 11 before taking up drug dealing. He said: ‘When I was young there was no money to do what you wanted to do.

‘You could work legally for 20 days and earn the same amount that you get from doing two drug deals.’

He said Usiko had helped him turn his life around, adding: ‘I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I don’t do anything.’